Reclosable disposable container and closure

ABSTRACT

A reclosable disposable container for small quantities of liquid or semi-liquid products such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, ointments, creams and the like. The container has a flexible body or reservoir for the contents and a spout which is opened by removing the end to create an opening. A foldable portion is provided to create a fold between the opening and the remaining contents. When this portion is folded the container is closed. A tab is provided on the foldable portion which cooperates with a slot in the container to maintain the fold and keep the container closed. The container is reopened by taking the tab out of the slot and unfolding the foldable portion. A container closure is also described and comprises a spout which is reclosable by folding and is maintained in a closed position by a tab which cooperates with a slot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention has to do with reclosable containers for small quantities of products and closures for such containers. More particularly, the invention relates to flexible, reclosable disposable containers for small quantities of products.

2. The Related Art

Disposable containers for small amounts of products are either designed for single use applications or, if they are reclosable, are either too expensive for many applications or they don't reclose effectively. Products commonly filled into containers of this type include shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, topical pharmaceutical products, condiments, snack foods and the like, as discussed in more detail below.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,855 describes a self-closing squeeze container which employs a resilient curved plastic rib disposed over a mouth of the container. When a user squeezes the container, the rib allows the mouth to open. When the user stops squeezing the container, the rib causes the mouth to close.

A thermoformed reclosable container is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,737. The container has a dispensing nozzle which can be opened by breaking off a tab. A hinged closure is provided adjacent the nozzle. The closure is shaped to complement the shape of the nozzle so that the nozzle will be closed when the closure is rotated on its hinge.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,939 discloses various embodiments of a reclosable dispensing package or pouch. The container has an aperture forming structure and reclosure cap member or similar structures in various embodiments wherein the aperture is opened to remove contents from the container and a cap or plug is used to close the opening in the aperture.

There is a need for an inexpensive, reclosable disposable container for small quantities of products and this need is met by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a reclosable disposable container for a small quantity of product. The container is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. It closes and recloses without leakage, even when it is filled with low viscosity liquids such as water or alcohol. In its simplest form, the container can be made from a single piece of flat stock such as a foil or plastic coated paper. Two or more pieces of flat stock or other materials can also be used to make embodiments of the container and they can be the same or different. Various manufacturing methods known in the art can be used to make the containers including thermoforming, using adhesives, heat pressing (the fusing together of a polymer through heat and pressure) and the like. The container can be made in an infinite number of shapes without deviating from the principles of the invention set forth herein.

The container comprises a body which provides a reservoir for a liquid or semi-liquid product. The reservoir is in fluid communication with a spout having an end portion. The end portion can be removed by tearing, cutting or breaking to make an opening in the spout and allowing product to be dispensed from the spout. A foldable portion is disposed in proximity to the spout to make a fold between the reservoir and the opening or between the remaining contents and the opening. In the preferred embodiments, the fold is disposed along the spout between the opening and the reservoir. When the foldable portion is folded, the spout is closed (or reclosed) at the fold. A tab is provided on the foldable portion which cooperates with a slot in the container. When the tab is inserted into the slot, the foldable portion is maintained in its folded position thereby keeping the container closed. The container is easily reopened by pulling or pushing the tab out of the slot and returning the foldable portion to its unfolded position.

A closure for containers of the invention has a spout with one end in fluid communication with the container reservoir and an opposing end having a portion which can be removed to open the spout. A foldable portion is disposed in proximity to the spout to make a fold between the ends. This allows the spout to be closed at the fold when the foldable portion is folded. A tab on the foldable portion cooperates with a slot in the closure to maintain the spout in a closed position.

The term “small quantity” as used in this specification refers to the amount of product typically filled into containers that are intended for only a few uses and then thrown away. A small quantity may be a few milliliters or a fraction of an ounce or may be as much as several milliliters or a few ounces.

The term “flexible” refers to the properties of the material used to make the containers so that the containers can be squeezed to cause the contents to come out of the spout. Many foils, papers and plastics are sufficiently flexible to be used according to the invention as will be apparent to those having skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I is a front elevation view of a container of the invention.

FIG. II illustrates the container of FIG. I after the spout has been opened.

FIG. III is a side elevation of FIG. II.

FIG. IV illustrates the container of FIGS. II and III after it has been closed.

FIG. V is a rear elevation view of FIG. I.

FIG. VI is a front elevation view of a closure of the invention.

FIG. VI-A is a bottom view of FIG. VI.

FIG. VII is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a closure of the invention.

FIG. VII-A is a bottom view of FIG. VII.

FIG. VIII is a front elevation view of still another embodiment of a closure of the invention.

FIG. VIII-A is a bottom view of FIG. VIII.

FIG. IX is a front elevation view of another embodiment of a container of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The containers of the invention can be used for numerous kinds of products which are liquid or semi-liquid, such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, sunscreen, skin care lotions and creams, human or veterinary pharmaceutical products, including pharmaceuticals for topical application or ingestion, various food products such as condiments, spices, snacks, icings and pastry decorating icings, and the like.

The containers are flexible and disposable and are typically made from a foil, a polymer, a combination of a foil and a polymer, a combination of foil and paper, a combination of a polymer and paper or a combination of foil, polymer and paper. Typical foils include aluminum and typical polymers include polyethylene. For some applications, a foil-polymer laminate material or a paper-polymer laminate material may be used, particularly where the contents may be more shelf stable when in contact with a polymer which would line the inside of the container.

The term “tubular” as used in this specification can mean cylindrical (i.e., having a circular cross-section) or it can mean having other tubular shapes with cross-sections which may be oval, elliptical, rectangular or any other closed geometric shape which is capable of forming a tube. The cross-section may be uniform or non-uniform along the length of the tube and/or the geometric shape may be the same or different along the length of the tube.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. I illustrates a front elevation of an embodiment of the invention which comprises a disposable, reclosable tubular container 1 having a reservoir 2, a sealed end 3 and an openable spout 4. Spout 4 is opened by tear off tab 5 which is torn across dotted tear line 6 thereby removing end portion 7 of spout 4.

FIG. II illustrates the embodiment of FIG. I after tear off tab 5 and end portion 7 have been torn off to open spout 4.

FIG. III is a side elevation view of FIG. II illustrating by arrow a the direction of bending a foldable portion 8 to create a fold along dotted fold line 9, also referred to herein as fold portion 9 (see FIG. I). Alternatively, the foldable portion can be bent in the direction of arrow b.

In FIG. IV, a fold has been completed in the direction of arrow b to reclose the spout, and closure tab 10 has been inserted into slot 11 to maintain the spout 4 in a reclosed condition. Closure tab 10 is provided with an optional notch 12 which can prevent closure tab 10 from unintentionally coming out of slot 11.

FIG. V is a rear elevation view of the FIG. I embodiment illustrating seam 14 which was made to create a tube out of flat stock.

The container of FIGS. I-V is made by folding flat stock, such as a flat piece of foil, and adhering it to itself (e.g., by adhesive) along seam 14. This process step creates a tube. The tube is cut to size and the end that will comprise the closure (see discussion of FIGS. VI-IX below) is adhered to itself except in the portion that will comprise the spout 4. Then the closure portion is cut to form the tear tab 5, the closure tab 10 and the slot 11. The other end of the container is then filled with product followed by sealing at end 3.

FIG. VI illustrates a closure 21 of the invention comprising a spout 24 having a proximal end 23 which can be connected in fluid communication with a container of any shape (not shown). The distal end 27 is removed using tear off tab 25 which is pulled to make a tear along dotted tear line 26. The spout 24 is then closed by folding along dotted fold line 22, also referred to herein as fold portion 22, and closure tab 28 is inserted into slot 29 to prevent the unintentional opening of the spout.

FIG. VI-A is a bottom view of FIG. VI illustrating proximal end 23 of spout 24.

FIG. VII illustrates a closure 31 of the invention comprising a spout 34 having a proximal end 33 which can be connected in fluid communication with a container of any shape (not shown). The distal end 37 is removed by cutting, tearing or breaking off along dotted line 36. For example, the distal end 37 can be twisted and torn off. The spout 34 is then closed by folding along dotted fold line 32, also referred to herein as fold portion 32, and closure tab 38 is inserted into slot 39 to prevent the unintentional opening of the spout.

FIG. VII-A is a bottom view of FIG. VII illustrating proximal end 33 of spout 34.

FIG. VIII illustrates another embodiment of a closure of the invention which is suitable for viscous products that may require a relatively wider spout. Closure 41 comprises a spout 44 having a proximal end 43 which can be connected in fluid communication with a container of any shape (not shown). The distal end 47 is removed by cutting or breaking off along dotted line 46. The spout 44 is then closed by folding along dotted fold line 42, also referred to herein as fold portion 42, and closure tabs 48 a and 48 b are inserted into respective slots 49 a and 49 b to prevent the unintentional opening of the spout.

FIG. VIII-A is a bottom view of FIG. VIII illustrating proximal end 43 of spout 44.

FIG. IX illustrates a closure 51 in fluid communication with container reservoir 60 to make a container 62 of the invention. Container 62 illustrates an embodiment of the invention made from two sheets of flat stock that are adhered to one another (by adhesive, heat pressing or other suitable means known in the art) at seam 61. Seam 61 completely encircles the reservoir 60 and spout 64. The elements of the closure are also formed by this seam and cut to form the tabs and slot as described above. The spout 54 is opened by pulling tear tab 55 to make a tear at dotted tear line 56 and remove distal end 57. The spout 54 is then closed by folding along dotted fold line 52, also referred to herein as fold portion 52, and closure tab 58 is inserted into slot 59 to prevent the unintentional opening of the spout. 

1. A reclosable container for a small quantity of product comprising a flexible container body sealed at one end and having an openable spout at the other end, a reservoir within the container body and in fluid communication with the spout, the openable spout being reclosable by a fold portion which cooperates with a foldable portion, the fold portion being disposed along the spout, the foldable portion having a tab which cooperates with a slot in the container to maintain the spout in a closed position.
 2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a tear off tab for opening the spout.
 3. The container of claim 1 further comprising a second tab which cooperates with a second slot in the container to maintain the spout in a closed position.
 4. The container of claim 2 further comprising a second tab which cooperates with a second slot in the container to maintain the spout in a closed position.
 5. A closure for a flexible disposable container, the closure comprising a spout having a proximal end in fluid communication with the container, a distal end openable by removal of an end portion thereof and being reclosable by a fold portion which cooperates with a foldable portion, the fold portion being disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the closure having a tab which cooperates with a slot to maintain the spout in a closed position.
 6. The closure of claim 5 further comprising a tear off tab for opening the spout.
 7. The closure of claim 5 further comprising a second tab which cooperates with a second slot in the container to maintain the spout in a closed position.
 8. The closure of claim 6 further comprising a second tab which cooperates with a second slot in the container to maintain the spout in a closed position. 